When was the last time a top heavyweight picked someone they considered a rival? I can only think of Fury taking Wilder. ****, we don't even get live mandatories, never mind voluntaries.
I think everyone knew that AJ and Hearn had picked someone who was dangerous, but obviously they expected AJ to beat him otherwise he wouldn't have been on the card. Wilder expected to beat Ortiz and a wrecked Fury too and both nearly went very wrong.
They're all cherry picks. Not on the Tom Schwarz level, but still picked to lose. When it comes to a genuinely live fight, they stall.
AJ picked Miller like the best available fight for the USA, not a bad matchup but Miller's ability were still unknown.
Hence what happened they looked for the best available opposition IMO. The went to Ortiz, Whyte and they got Ruiz to sign.
AJ might have been the favorite but boxing hardcore fans knew that Ruiz would had been tough. Not too many people picked Ruiz to win in the fashion that he did.
I said it multiple times that AJ would win a decision but would not be surprised if he got stunned a few times by Ruiz.
I got the impression Ruiz was brought on board to help Stubhub sell the tickets they were struggling to move, the added prescience of a Mexican will ultimately have been a huge factor in Hearn’s choice for selling the empty seats.
I said before the fight that Ruiz was more skilled than Joshua (and took some flak). I wish I had backed up my words with some cash but I thought Joshua might just be too strong for him.
Andy Ruiz was supposed to be a easy showcase fight that went terribly wrong he was no killer he wasn't ranked in top 10 by ring, ESPN or TBRB or anyone really
Just a fat guy that was supposed to be knocked out in a spectacular fashion to introduce AJ to America
Also Tyrone WBCfan is a pussy
#FACTS
Completely agree.
Ruiz was meant to be a low risk replacement, this notion that he was high calibre opposition is nonsense.
Andy Ruiz is a top 2 fighter and unified champion. Never forget that. When Joshua wins the rematch it will be a top, top win.
When Joshua announced the fight, Ruiz wasn't even a top 10 guy. And Ruiz had never beaten a top 10 contender prior to the Joshua fight. If Ruiz can do it, that doesn't give a good impression of Joshua.
And how "top" is Ruiz will be known once he fights another top 5 guy like Wilder, Fury, Ortiz, or even Whyte. He already lost to Parker.
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